Slicing machine



Dec. 17, A. E q -E QN SLIGING MACHINE Filed May 10, 1954 2 Sheet-Sheec 1 Dec. 17, 1935. A E, PATERsGN 2,024,872

SLICING MACHINE Filed May 10, 1954 2: Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Dec. 17, 1935 SLICING MACHINE Alexander Edwin Paterson, Peckham, London, England Application May 10, 1934, Serial No. 724,979 In Great Britain May 13, 1933 7 Claims.

This invention relates to slicing machines in which a piece of bacon or the like substance is advanced towards the slicing knife by means of a feed mechanism, and in which automatic means are provided for varying periodically the angular position of the piece in relation to the knife by a correcting motion, to compensate for any convergence of the two ends of the piece by a lengthwise taper in the thickness of the slices, as described in U. S. Patent No. 1,638,362.

The present invention has for its objects to provide improved controlling means for produc- .ing the angular correcting motion, to enable simple adjustment of the controlling means according to the shape of the particular piece to be sliced, to distribute the taper uniformly over all the slices into which the piece is cut, and to make the controlling means readily adaptable to existing machines of a well known type.

The invention is hereafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation showing the main parts of a slicing machine provided with controlling means according to one embodiment of the invention for producing the angular correcting motio'n.

Fig. 2 is a plan view.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the controlling means adjusted to suit an angular or wedgeshaped piece of bacon.

Figs. 4 and 5 are views corresponding to Figs. 1 and 2, showing a modified construction of the controlling means.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the carriage a of the machine reciprocates upon the base b and supports the feed table which advances periodically towards the plane of the rotary cutting knife d, in the usual manner. Upon the feed table there is mounted by means of the usual pillars e a frame f having lugs f f for engaging the pillars, one of the lugs being provided with a suitable catch F.

The meat-plate o'r holder 9 supporting the substance to be sliced is pivoted on the frame f upon a vertical pivot 71. towards the side of the feed table remote from the cutting knife d, while a controlling lever i is pivoted on the frame 1 upon a vertical pivot 7' towards the opposite side of the feed table; the lever i is shown as a straight bar secured to a segment i fitting upon the pivot pin a, with a curved slot 1' formed in this segment. The meat-plate g and lever i are connected together by a link is extending rearwardly from the meat-plate from a point g at about the middle of the length of the latter, the rear end of this link being pivoted upon a connecting pin h the upper part of which engages in the slot 2' and is fitted with a wing nut k for looking it at any position along the slot.

The free end of the lever i can swing over the top of the pivot h, which may be provided with a milled nut h for temporarily clamping the meat-plate g. A stop Z consisting of a vertical post, mounted upon the reciprocating car- 10 riage, extends above the top of the pivot it so as to form an abutment for the lever i as it swings forward; this post is shown as carried by a clamp Z secured by screws Z upon the usual horn member m supporting the rind or underside of the piece of bacon close to the cutting knife. ,As can be seen in Fig. 2, the slot 2' is curved to a radius struck from the point g when the meatplate g is drawn back to normal position, bythe engagement of the lever i with the stop I; this implies that the meat-plate will always reach its normal position at the same angular position of the lever z, irrespective of the position of the pin k in the slot i In setting up anangular piece of bacon for cutting into tapering slices as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the substance 0: will be fixed on the meat-plate g by the usual hooks or prongs (not shown) engaging in the end of the piece, and the meat-plate then swung forward around its pivot h into an oblique position so as to bring the front face ofthe piece :0 parallel with the knife d; the meat-plate or holder 9 can be temporarily clamped in this position, by tightening the milled nut 72. on the top of its pivot pin, while the feed table is adjusted to bring the piece as up to the knife :1, as seen in Fig. 3. During the swinging of the meat-plate, the link It will have drawn forward the controlling lever i to an amount depending upon the adjustment of the connecting pin k in its slot; if for example the pin occupies the extreme end of the slot, as in Fig. 2, the lever i will turn through approximately the same angle as the meat-plate, though in the contrary direction. This forward movement of the lever i is then completed by pushing the connecting pin k along its slot (after releasing the wing nut k towards the pivot 7' of the lever 2', until the free end of the latter abuts against the post or stop I on the reciprocating carriage; when the lever strikes the stop 1, the connecting pin 70 can be pushed no further along its slot. If, on the other hand, the pin k has been left at a position too near the pivot a, then the lever 2' will turn through a greater angle than the meat-plate, and it may strike the stop Z before the front face of the piece as comes into the plane of the knife; in this case, the pin 10 must be pulled back along the slot, away from the pivot 7, and subsequently i e-adjusted to complete the forward movement of the lever, as described above, after the feed table has been advanced to the slicing position. The pin k is then looked at the'correct position by tightening its nut I and the clamping nut h of the meat-plate pivot can be released.

During the cutting operation, as the frame of attachment is advanced with the feed table 0, the lever i is gradually forced back by the stop I, thus causing the connectingpin k and link It pivoting thereon to draw back the meat-plate or holder 9 until it comes parallel with the knife d for the cutting of the last slice at the moment when the lever 2' reaches its original position, as in Fig. 2; the ink is can then be returned to its normal position at right angles to the meat-plate g, in readiness for the next operation, by releasing the wing nut k and sliding the connecting pin 76 along the slot i which now lies once more concentric with the fixed connecting pin 9' on the meat-plate.

The meat-plate or holder 9 can be locked in the closed position, when it is not desired to cut taper slices, by means of a catch f pivoted on the frame f and adapted to engage a peg g on the top of the holder; the catch isoperated by a handle f andheld in either of its two positions by a fiat spring f secured to the frame and pressing against onev of two flat surfaces 1 f on the edge of the catch. Fig. 2 shows the catch f in the locked position, but it will be disengaged,

as. seen in Fig. 3, during the cutting of taper slices.

In a modified construction, illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the controlling lever i is mounted further to the rear of the meat-plate or holder g and arranged to engage the fixed stop Z indirect- 1y by means of a sliding tappet rod o'guided in a thus causing the link k to swing the meat-plate bush 0 adjacent to the frame lug f engaging one of the usual pillars or uprights e on the feed table 0, the rear end of this tappet carrying a block p 'slidable along a fixed guide rod q parallel to the tappet 0'; the free end of 'thecontrolling lever i is forked at 2' to engage a reduced central part of the block, so that the tappet whenin contact with the fixed stop I will hold back the lever i in relation tothe advancing feed table,

g back to itsnormal position as in theembodiment previously described. "-The curved slot 1' for connecting the link k to the controlling lever may be formed in a segment secured thereto, as

' in the previous case, or it may beaccommodated in the Width of the lever i by setting thelatter at a'suitable angle (as shown in Fig. 5) and extending the link k and the tappet rod 0 to the required length.

' tappet rod 0 from advancingbut allowing it to be drawn back as the holder"closes-against the frame.

against a finger plate 12 on theblock p, the lock By pinching the top of the detent r vertical pivot.

can be released, allowing movement of the tappet in either direction.

What I claim is:-

'1. In a slicing machine having a knife, a feed table, mechanism for advancing said feed table 5 in relation to said knife, and a holder mounted on said feed table for the substance to be cut by said knife, means for controllingthe angular position of said substance in relationto said knife, comprising a lever extending across said feed table, a pivot for said lever towards one side of said feed table, a stop for said lever at the other side of said feed table, a pivotal connection between said holder and said feed table, and a link connecting said holder to said lever, said link ex- 15 tending from a point on said holder remote from said pivotal connection and. in a direction away from the cutting plane of said knife to a point on said lever adjustable in relation to its pivot.

2. In a slicing machine having a knife, a feed table, mechanism for advancing said feed t'able in relation to said knife, and a holder-mounted on said feed table: for the substance to be cutby said knife, means for controlling the: angular position of" said substance in relation; to said knife, comprising a lever' pivoted towards one side of said feed table; said leverincluding. a slotted portion, a pivotal connection" between one end' of said :.holder and said feed table, arlink holder parallel to said "knife with said" lever engaged by said stop.

3. In a slicing machine having'acknife, a -feed table, aipair of verticalpillars on 'saidfeed'table,

mechanism for advancing said feed table in relation toisaidknife, an'daholder :for the substance to be cut byis'aid knife,'said holder being mounted onsaid feedtable by'said pillars, the combinatiorr of a; frame detachably secured to said'pillars; a vertical pivot for said holder uponas'aid-frame towards one side of saidffeed table', a lever extending across said feed table above- -said "frame, said lever including aslotted portion, a vertical"' pivot for said lever upon said fram'e towards the other side of said feed'table', a pivot-member adjustably engaged in said slottedportion of said lever, a link connecting said holder to said pivot :member, said link lying betweenisaid vertical pivots, and a stop for the free end of said lever, said slotted portion having it's slot curved'iat a radius equal to the length of said'linkand-"s'aid stop being fixed adjacent to-said first-mentioned 4. In a slicing machine having a knife, a fed table, mechanismfor' advancing said-feed table in relation to said knife, and a holder mounted on said feed table for the substance to be cut by said knife, means for controlling the angulaf position of said. substance in rel'ationto said knife, comprising a frame detachably-secured uponsaid feed table, a vertical :pivot for said holder on said'frame towards oneside of s'aid feed table, a lever pivoted onsaid frame-towards" the other side of saidfeed table and-extending across'said feed table, a link connecting said holder to'said lever, a stop hired at one side" of 'said feed table, and a tappet -rod carried by said frame and slidableparallel tothe advance of'said' feed table, one end of said tappet rod being engaged by the free end of said lever, and the other end of said tappet rod adapted to engage said stop.

5. In a. slicing machine having a knife, a feed table, mechanism for advancing said feed table in relation to said knife, and a holder mounted on said feed table for the substance to be out by said knife, the combination of a frame detachably secured upon said feed table, a vertical pivot for said holder upon said frame towards one side of said feed table, a lever extending across said feed table, a vertical pivot for said lever upon said frame, a link extending from said holder in a direction away from the cutting plane of said knife and to a point upon said lever, one end of said link being adjustable in relation to the pivot of said lever, a stop located at a position approached by said feed table in its advance, said stop engaging the free end of said lever in a direction to draw back said link and move said holder parallel to said knife, and disengageable means for locking said holder to said frame in a position parallel to said knife.

6. In a slicing machine having a knife, a feed table, mechanism for advancing said feed table in relation to said knife, and a holder mounted on said feed table for the substance to be cut by said knife, means for controlling the angular position of said substance in relation to said knife, comprising a frame detachably secured upon said feed table, a vertical pivot for said holder on said frame towards one side of said feed table, a lever pivoted on said frame towards the other side of said feed table and extending across said feed table, a link connecting said holder to said lever, a fixed stop at one side of said feed table, a tappet rod carried by said frame and slidable parallel to the advance of said feed table, a guide rod secured to said frame parallel to said tappet 5 rod, and a block secured to one end of said tappet rod and slidable along said guide rod, the free end of said lever engaging said block, and the other end of said tappet rod adapted to engage said fixed stop. 7. In a slicing machine having a knife, a feed table, mechanism for advancing said feed table in relation to said knife, and a holder mounted on said feed table for the substance to be cut by said knife, the combination of a frame detachably secured upon said feed table, a vertical pivot for said holder upon said frame towards one side of said feed table, a lever pivoted on said frame towards the other side of said feed table and extending across said feed table, a. link connecting said holder to said lever, a fixed stop at one sideof said feed table, a tappet rod carried by said frame and slidable parallel to the advance of said feed table, a guide rod secured to said frame parallel to said tappet rod, a block secured to one end of said tappet rod and slidable along said guide rod, the free end of said lever engaging said block, and the other end of said tappet rod adapted to engage said fixed stop, and manually disengag-eable means for preventing movement of said tappet rod in one direction relatively to said guide rod.

ALEXANDER EDWIN PATERSON. 

